Martha Stewart

Stewart in 2011, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Martha Helen Kostyra

Place of Birth: Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.

Date of Birth: August 3, 1941

Ethnicity: Polish

Martha Stewart is an American retail businessperson, writer, and television personality. She founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She was the host of the shows Martha Stewart Living, from 1993 to 2004, and Martha, from 2005 to 2012.

Martha is the daughter of Jadwiga/Martha and Edward Kostyra. All of her grandparents were Polish. She sometimes used her grandmother’s Polish recipes on her cooking shows, and has said she learned them from her mother. Martha has a daughter, television host and radio personality Alexis Stewart, with her former husband, businessperson Andrew Stewart.

Martha’s paternal grandfather was Franciszek Józef “Frank” Kostyra (the son of Wojciech Kostyra and Franciska Lach). Martha’s grandfather Franciszek was born in Kopki.

Martha’s paternal grandmother was Helena/Helen Krukar/Kruker (the daughter of Walenty Valentinns Krukar and Tecla/Tichla Grysiewicz). Helena was born in Zagorze.

Martha’s maternal grandfather was Józef Ruszkowski (the son of Tomasz Ruszkowski and Julia Kiszalyska). Józef was born in Kotunia, Ujezd słupecki.

Martha’s maternal grandmother was Franciszka Albiniak (the daughter of Michael Albiniak and Franciszka Orzel). Martha’s grandmother Franciszka was born in Janów Lubelski.

Sources:

Genealogies of Martha Stewart –

Family history of Martha Stewart –